Second Chance for “Thinnest Living Dog”

When Hope, a Staffordshire mix, was discovered somewhere in Somerset, England, a number of first impressions were bestowed upon her, with one taking a top spot in dubbing her as the “thinnest living dog” there is.

Incredibly malnourished, Hope is presumed to have been abandoned by her owner, left to succumb to her own fate.

Fortunately, someone found Hope in her dire state, and was brought to the Weston-super-Mare RSPCA center in Somerset. She was found by a man who described the state of her discovery, with Hope huddled inside a box which was put on the side of the road.

RSPCA officers, who gave her the “Hope” moniker, immediately brought Hope to Clarendon Vets, where a thorough examination on her condition was done. Believed to be between one to two years old, Hope had weighed 17 pounds when she was examined, a figure which is practically half the ideal weight for a dog of her breed and age.

Staff members noted that Hope, as thin as she was, was far too weak to walk, let alone eat anything.

Fortunately, under the care of veterinarian Anna Parry at Bridge Veterinary Practice, Hope has positively responded to treatments administered for her well being. At the start, staff members had to wrap Hope in blankets, in an effort to keep her warm. So far, Hope appears to be well on her way towards recovery, no longer requiring any dependence on an IV for proper hydration and introduction of nutrients.

“This poor creature was found in a terrible state, and it would seem that whoever allowed her to get like this simply tried to get rid of the problem by abandoning her as though she was rubbish,” shared RSPCA Inspector John Norman, in describing Hope’s case.

Based on the Animal Welfare Act of 2006, those found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal/animals can be imprisoned for six months and/or be subjected to a 20,000 pound fee.

It is hoped that Hope’s case remains to be the only one of its kind to be once again encountered.